Nov 2012 - A solo crazy woman heads to WDW!

[LisaCat]

I’ve never done one of these, so bear with me as I learn along the way!
My name is Lisa and I’m a Disney addict! My Disney adventures are mostly “confined” to Disneyland since I’m only a 90 minute flight away, but this year I am taking a trip to WDW! SO EXCITED! I actually got to go in the fall of 2010 as well. Prior to that, my last visit was for a few days in 2004 (which were mostly spent touring the resorts a few days before Christmas). In 2010 I went with a friend of mine and we started our trip with the November 1 Mickey Halloween Party. This year I am going solo (so far – but I do have an open invite to a couple of friends if they wish to join me) the week after Thanksgiving to take in the Christmas Party and actually do Holiday stuff in the parks, since we didn’t do much of that in 2004.

I am staying offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. That’s how I’ve pulled these trips off; using points we didn’t have the opportunity to use. My first trip wrinkle was that it was also hinging on being able to book on a Southwest Reward ticket. When Southwest opened their flight schedule up at the CRACK OF DAWN on June 4th, I learned that I could not, in fact, use a reward ticket for the day I had chosen to fly out, Nov.24th. So, I nabbed the flight back on December 1 and then proceeded to look at my options. Both the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving were blacked out. Hm. Friday (day after Thanksgiving) was available for Reward booking. Hm. I have a friend who lives within an hour from WDW…. I’m sure I could crash on her sofa if I can’t find a room…. What the heck – BOOK IT! So, on to where I’m going to stay Friday night. For kicks and giggles, I looked at Disney reservations. Hm…. $129 to stay that night at the new Art of Animation. That will get me a “free” ride from the airport too. Hm. Wonder if I can get an early morning ADR for Saturday morning at Crystal Palace since I’ll be “onsite” and will be able to get there more easily than taking a cab from Bonnet Creek as I had planned to do on Dec 1? DONE. Alrighty then, BOOK IT! The other thing I did was to buy my park ticket from Underground Tourist the day before the price increase, so I got a 7 day ticket at the old 6 day price. So here are the plans so far, starting with OUTBOUND TRAVEL DAY:

Friday, November 23: Cranky husband will drive me to the airport that morning and I will fly to Orlando, transferring planes at the FABULOUS Chicago Midway Airport. Arrival in Orlando 9:45PM local time. I will grab my luggage and head for the Magical Express to Art of Animation for the night.

I’m still working on the daily itineraries. I have a bazillion ADRs for every conceivable meal I might want to do. Once the final details I’m still waiting on can be arranged, then I can cancel the ADRs I don’t need. I learned my lesson in 2010 by not booking meals for times that I thought I was going to do a hard ticket meal/event and then when those fell thru I couldn’t get an ADR for what I wanted to replace them with. This time I’ve got the ADRs and can cancel if I’m able to book Candlelight or Wishes. Based on the ADRs I have, what follows are my (still subject to tweaking) plans, which I will update as I tweak along!

[LisaCat]

Saturday, November 24: 8:20AM ADR at Crystal Palace. Get up bright and early, check out and put luggage with the bell desk for the day. Head to MK. I had not planned on being at the parks on Saturday since originally it was my travel day and because I figure it will be a wall to wall people ZOO. So I may just do breakfast and a few things and bug out as soon as the crowds get thick. I figure I will then take the monorail over to Grand Floridian and check out their Holiday décor. Maybe the Contemporary as well. Then I’ll hop a Disney bus back to AoA and get my bags and a cab over to Bonnet Creek and get checked in and settled there. If I get in early enough, I may grab their shuttle back over to MK if the park is open late that night. Saturday is a play it by ear day.

Sunday, November 25: First full day at WDW will be at Magic Kingdom! It’s a Mickey Christmas Party night, so the park will close early, making it a good first full day choice. I have 2 park days set aside for MK PLUS I’m planning on attending the Mickey party on an additional day (Yes, I’m really THAT insane). Part of my reasoning is that in 2010 we focused on attractions. Specifically “rides” and I really felt like I didn’t “see” much of the parks. This trip is focusing on things I didn’t do last trip and I know I still won’t see it all. The other reason for more time in MK is to allow for exploring the Fantasyland expansion, should it be open. Sunday’s ADRs are currently for Crystal Palace at 8:25AM (will most likely cancel), Liberty Tavern for lunch and ‘Ohana for dinner at 7:35PM (I was happy with this considering the park will kick me out by 7PM!). If I feel up to it, I might waddle down to the beach after dinner to catch Holiday Wishes. LOL

[LisaCat]

Monday, November 26: EPCOT. In 2010 we covered Future World pretty well but didn’t do much in World Showcase other than Food & Wine stuff, so most of my time will be spent in WS. I don’t need to ride Soarin – we have it here in CA and with a single rider line! Test Track will be closed (and I’ve done it) and I’m still on the fence for Mission Space. Much of my Epcot planning revolves around the unreleased Candlelight Processional dining packages which, while I do intend to try and book one, are holding up ALL ADRs at Le Cellier. SIGH. Current ADRs are Via Nappoli for lunch and Cape May for dinner.

[LisaCat]

Tuesday, November 27: This is my killer day. I start with a 9AM ADR at Tusker House (still trying for an earlier seating). I don’t have a ton of stuff on my list at AK (fortunately) – we covered this park pretty well in 2010. I’d like to do Safari and Everest, but I don’t need to do anything in Dinoland. I need to see Lion King and the parade. Since Everest has a single rider line, it makes that easier. If I can’t work the Safari in, I won’t be crushed. I am planning on leaving the park to check out AKL and chill over there for a couple hours then come back for the parade and then hop the bus to Magic Kingdom for the Mickey Christmas Party. This will be a day of snacks and meals on the go. My ony ADR is Tusker House.

[LisaCat]

Wednesday, November 28: Magic Kingdom Day 2 ½. This day is scheduled for a later start. I’m starting with a 9:30AM breakfast at Chef Mickey (which I may cancel if I can get a Wishes Dessert seating for that night). Then into the park to do the Tomorrowland side. Again, I’m hoping to get a Wishes Desert seating, but if that doesn’t work out, I have a late lunch/early dinner ADR at Plaza. Of course, I’m REALLY hoping that Be Our Guest will be open in time for my trip. That would trump Wishes. LOL

[LisaCat]

Thursday, November 29: EPCOT Day Two. Again, much of my Epcot planning is hinging on when, where and IF I can book a Candlelight Processional Dining package. Current ADR for lunch at Les Chefs at 2:20PM.

Friday, November 30: Last day in the parks.  This is my Hollywood Studios day. Again, we covered this park pretty well in 2010. We saw most of the shows. I don’t need to do Toy Story. RnRC is a MUST. If the new Jack Sparrow show/attraction/whatever it’s going to be is open, that will be top priority. Don’t need to do Star Wars. Fantasmic is not a must, but it might be nice for that to be the END of my trip. Haven’t decided yet. Osborne lights are a MUST. I saw them in 2004 and missed seeing them by just a week in 2010. Right now the only ADR I have for this day is breakfast at Hollywood and Vine for 8:30.

[LisaCat]

Saturday, December 1: My flight doesn’t leave MCO until 4:30PM. I know Mears will pick me up around 1:00, so it does give me the option, if I’m mostly packed and ready to go Friday night, to head back over to “the World” again. I have an 8:20AM ADR at Crystal Palace. We’ll see as I get the itinerary filled in if I decided to keep it. If I do Fantasmic Friday night, I will likely let that be the LAST thing I do at the parks. End on a high note. Then I could just be super lazy on Saturday and not check out until the last possible minute at Bonnet Creek. I switch planes coming home in Vegas and land back here around 9PM.

[LisaCat]

A work in progress. What I've GOT and what I WANT are all listed here. Cancellations WILL occur. It will be interesting to see where I actually do eat on this trip!

Saturday, Nov. 24th:

Crystal Palace 8:20AM
'Ohana Dinner 4:30PM
Be Our Guest Dinner

Sunday, Nov. 25th:
Crystal Palace 8:25AM Cancelled
Liberty Tree lunch 1:35PM Cancelled
Tusker House 9:10AM
Ohana Dinner 7:35PM


Monday, Nov 26th:
Via Napoli Lunch 2:00PM Cancelled
Le Cellier Lunch 1:05PM
Cape May Dinner 6:45PM
Candlelight Processional Dinner

Tuesday, Nov 27th:
Tusker House 9:05AM Cancelled
Liberty Tree lunch 11:30AM
Planning QS the rest of the day

Wednesday, Nov 28:
Chef Mickey 9:25AM
Plaza 4:00PM
Be Our Guest early dinner
Wishes Dessert Party

Thursday, Nov 29th:
Les Chefs de France 2:20PM
Candlelight Processional Dining Package

Friday, Nov 30th:
Hollywood & Vine 8:15AM
Fantasmic Dining Package?

Saturday, Dec 1 (Travel Day):
Crystal Palace 8:20AM -Cancelled

[DizNee Luver]

Hi Lisa

I didn't realize you had started one of these!!!

So from your schedule you look like the 26th or 29th are your 2 CP dates.......Neil Patrick Harris looks to be your guy!!! We get Olivia Newton-John & I'm thrilled!!!!

I read somewhere today that the Be Our Guest ressies won't start until October 1st!!!

I'm also hoping people are wrong the date for the CP packages (June 26), since we're leaving for camp on the 24th & gone for a week,.........WITH NO INTERNET or MAYBE NO CELL SERVICE!!!!! Gonna have a friend watch & she'll have all my info & choices if need be......but it just seems like a lot of work for someone who isn't even going!!

[LisaCat]

Originally Posted by DizNee Luver

Hi Lisa

I didn't realize you had started one of these!!!

So from your schedule you look like the 26th or 29th are your 2 CP dates.......Neil Patrick Harris looks to be your guy!!! We get Olivia Newton-John & I'm thrilled!!!!

I read somewhere today that the Be Our Guest ressies won't start until October 1st!!!

I'm also hoping people are wrong the date for the CP packages (June 26), since we're leaving for camp on the 24th & gone for a week,.........WITH NO INTERNET or MAYBE NO CELL SERVICE!!!!! Gonna have a friend watch & she'll have all my info & choices if need be......but it just seems like a lot of work for someone who isn't even going!!

Hi Laurie! Yeah, I was inspired by your awesome PTR and decided to finally try one. I may do a binder too.....

June 26 is my date for my dental appointment. I'm supposed to take 1-2 valium the night before and then another 1-2 before my appointment. I'll be flying high and making dining reservations on the 26th..... Hopefully I'll be able to actually WAKE UP at 3AM to do it!

[DizNee Luver]

Originally Posted by LisaCat

Hi Laurie! Yeah, I was inspired by your awesome PTR and decided to finally try one. I may do a binder too.....

June 26 is my date for my dental appointment. I'm supposed to take 1-2 valium the night before and then another 1-2 before my appointment. I'll be flying high and making dining reservations on the 26th..... Hopefully I'll be able to actually WAKE UP at 3AM to do it!

Oh No!!! That should prove to be interesting!! Actually you can sleep until 4am to make a phone call. From my understanding you can't do the CP online.

[QueenDoOver]

Hi Lisa!
Thought I would come and check things out. Wow! So much simpler for just one person

I have changed my trip and plans so much, that I hardly know what is up. I need to call and change some of my reservations around and I am just dreading that call!

Sounds like a great time. Don't you just love Southwest!

[LisaCat]

Hi Tracey! Yeah, it's the mixed blessing of "solo Disney" - scheduling and itinerary is a breeze, but there's no one to share the fun with. Of course, not having a witness to me acting like an oversized 6 year old might not be an entirely bad thing.....

[DizNee Luver]

Originally Posted by LisaCat

Hi Tracey! Yeah, it's the mixed blessing of "solo Disney" - scheduling and itinerary is a breeze, but there's no one to share the fun with. Of course, not having a witness to me acting like an oversized 6 year old might not be an entirely bad thing.....

Sorry couldn't resist!!!

[smile4stamps]

Originally Posted by LisaCat

Hi Tracey! Yeah, it's the mixed blessing of "solo Disney" - scheduling and itinerary is a breeze, but there's no one to share the fun with. Of course, not having a witness to me acting like an oversized 6 year old might not be an entirely bad thing.....

Hi Lisa... just saw you have a PTR... This made me My hubby will bear the witness to me being an oversize 6 year old in October! I am dragging him along to WDW for 2 WEEKS of F&W!!!